Photo by: Joe Swift
Update (7/25/16): They have signed with adidas and appear to be joining the Pure Athletic Group in Clermont Florida. They will be training under Lance Brauman.
Bydgoszcz, POLAND - Late Friday afternoon the two greatest sibling sprinters in US prep history both announced they would forgo their collegiate careers and turn professional. Both brothers tweeted at the same time to announce this huge news. This was just hours after Noah Lyles won the IAAF World U20 100m dash title.
This news not only greatly changes the landscape of what recent high school graduates are doing but it also changes the entire Southeastern Conference & NCAA landscape. Their absence in the collegiate ranks will likely allow many other stars and some seniors to shine as it was quickly looking like both brothers could sweep the NCAA titles as freshmen.
More details about the contract, who they are signing with, and more will likely be released early next week.
Noah's name has been in the headlines for nearly the entire season as he has taken down record after record. He started the year off huge with a 20.63 national record indoors in the 200 and then followed that up with a 4th place finish in the US Olympic Team Trials in 20.09 to break Roy Martin's 31 year old national record.
This week he took home gold in the IAAF World U20 Championships with his 10.17 winning performance in the 100m dash.
He finished his high school career with the following pr's (including wind-aided marks): 6.19 in the 55m dash, 10.07 in the 100m dash, 20.04 in the 200m dash, 33.18 in the 300m dash, and a 6-8 high jump best.
Those marks equal three state records and two national records.
His younger brother Josephus, who could actually be in the class of 2017, was on path to run some very fast times this season but unfortunately suffered an injury at the T.C. Williams Invitational. Both him and Noah were running against each other in the 200m dash and could have run 19.99 and 20.2 against each other. The injury turned out to be a season ending one.
Though he did not get the chance to show it, Josephus was actually moving faster than Noah at the same age. Josephus was the indoor national champion in the 60m dash running a time equal to Noah's VA #2 all-time of 6.19. He also finished second all-time in both the 500 (1:03.36) and 400 (45.46) for Virginia.
Despite being a year apart in age, they were each other's best friends and more pertinently, their best competition. This indoor season was the pinnacle of that rivalry and competition when the brothers got in the blocks next to each other and raced the 55m dash at 6A States.
This race featured a national record holder in Grant Holloway, World Junior competitor Miciaih Harris, and both Lyles brothers. Watch it below!
Noah & Josephus now join fellow All-Met athlete Drew Hunter in the professional ranks. Drew signed last week with Adidas and also decided to forgo his collegiate career. He will open his professional career in two weeks.